Deputy Minister of Transport and Public Works Baba Steven Malondera says Karonga International Airport will be ready for commercial flight in 21 days following rehabilitation works going on at the facility.
The deputy minister on Saturday inspected the airport which last hosted commercial flights 15 years ago.
Said Malondera: “This district is rich in terms of minerals which have also attracted foreign investors. So, I visited to appreciate the works done based on recommendations made four weeks ago.
“Having inspected the progress on the runway, the face-lifting of the terminal building for arrivals and departures, I can confidently say that big planes can land and take off at this airport.”
Malondera, who is also Malawi Congress Party director of youth, said the facility will enable government collect more revenue and create more job opportunities in the security sector.
On his part, Parliamentary Committee on Transport and Public Infrastructure chairperson Enock Phale commended government and stakeholders for the commitment to resume commercial flights at the airport, saying air transport will ease congestion on the road transport and increase revenue collection.
“We noted that the Ministry of Transport and Public Works registered low revenue collection. They had a budget of K6.8 billion but they collected K4.3 billion in 2024/25 financial year and a big chunk came from airport fees, which means there is need to expand the air transport to collect more revenue,” he said.
In an interview, Lotus Africa Limited mining manager Philip Schoeman whose institution has committed to partner government in the rehabilitation works said they will introduce two flights per week.
To reach Karonga, people use the M1 which passes through Chiweta Mountains in Rumphi, a stretch of about 10 kilometres, meandering around interlocking spurs before reaching Chiweta downhill.
